Chapter 55: Alternate universe

Kai vamp-sped down the cracked asphalt road, wind tearing past his face as he headed toward the familiar forest path that led to Brakebills’ hidden entrance. His mind was racing almost as fast as his body. ‘Damn button must’ve thrown me into a different world? Or is this an alternate reality?’ The thought dug in deeper with each step, the absurdity of the situation gnawing at him.

Originally, that button was supposed to send whoever touched it straight to the Neitherlands, the crossroads of all worlds. A stopover realm lined with fountains, each leading to a different universe. But instead of the magical in-between, it had dumped him here. Wherever here was.

He slowed near the last place he remembered encountering the hedge witches and decided to check out a few of their hideouts he had found when he was looking for Marina in his universe. After checking different warehouses and hideout he found absolutely nothing. After hours of searching, he was ready to drop it until one last spot came to mind.

He stopped infront of a record store.

Walking slowly to the door like any other customer would, he opens the door and slipped inside. The interior had the same old creak of the door, same faint smell of plastics and vinyl, but the faces were strangers. None of the hedges he knew. Behind the counter, a guy in a hat looked up.

“Can I get you anything?”

Kai’s lips curled into a lazy, sarcastic smile as he compelled the poor guy. “Yeah, you can start by telling me where Marina is.”

“Who?”

Kai frowned. “Uhh… your boss? Where is she?”

The guy corrected him. “He.”

“Sure, whatever. Where is he?”

The man jerked his chin toward the back. “He’s in his office.”

Kai followed, noting with mild irritation that he couldn’t feel any magic radiating from this place. As they reached the back door, the guy started to knock. Kai’s hand clamped on his shoulder.

“How about you let me do the honors,” Kai said dryly. “And maybe don’t do anything that’ll end badly for you.”

The knock landed, and a voice from inside answered. The sound made Kai’s eyes narrow instantly.

“Yeah, come on in”. The voice came out.

‘Of course’.

The door swung open to reveal Pete or, at least, this world’s version of him. He looked nothing like the suit-wearing schemer Kai remembered. This Pete had a total rock-and-roll vibe with a black ripped jeans, scuffed leather boots, a sleeveless vintage AC/DC shirt showing off tattooed arms, and messy hair that looked like he’d just rolled out of a tour van.

Pete’s eyes locked on him. “Who the fuck is this, Gabe?”

Kai strolled in casually. “Well, good afternoon.” He smirked, glancing at Gabe. “Run along now.”

Gabe disappeared, leaving them alone.

“Oh, where are my manners? Malachai Parker. But you can call me Kai.”

“I don’t give a fuck, dude,” Pete shot back, voice carrying a punk edge. “Get outta my shop before I throw you out myself.”

Kai laughed. “Oh, you’re funny.” His gaze flicked over Pete’s hair. “But seriously is that supposed to be a style, or did a lawnmower attack you?”

Pete’s jaw tightened. He reached behind the wall and grabbed a baseball bat. Kai’s brow rose. ‘Hmm. He’s not attacking me with any magic?’

Before Pete could swing, Kai blurred forward, making the man’s heart lurch. His hand closed around Pete’s neck. He stared, confused. ‘I Can’t… siphon anything from him?’ He’d provoked Pete to see if he’d retaliate magically but there was nothing.

“Don’t suppose you know a Marina do you?” Kai asked.

Pete, struggling, rasped, “She your chick or somethin’? Never heard of her in my life.”

Kai scowled. “Afraid you’d say that.” His eyes narrowed further. “And I don’t suppose you have a clue what a hedge is?”

He dropped Pete roughly. Pete gasped for air, still hunched over, and asked, “That a kind of drug or somethin’?”

Kai rolled his eyes.

Pete straightened slightly, his mind catching up. “Hey, hey wait a minute dude. How… how did you do that? You just appeared in front of me and lifted me like I was nothing. What are you on, man? Some new kind of juice?”

Kai just stared at him, unimpressed. ‘What the fuck is this idiot on about?’ Clearly, this version of Pete had no idea magic even existed and that might probably be because he’d never met Marina.

Kai placed a hand on Pete’s shoulder, compelling him. “You’re going to forget this entire conversation, forget seeing me, and you’re going to go back to your day like nothing happened. Understand?”

Pete’s gaze glazed over. “Yeah… nothing happened…”

Kai walked out, slipping into the dead-end street and then vanishing in a blur toward the only place left to check.

—

The familiar clearing for Brakebills’ hidden entrance felt off the moment he arrived. Kai frowned, considering possibilities. The first and most likely was Penny’s spell. It could’ve scrambled the button’s navigation system. But… there was another possibility. Fate.

He muttered to himself, “Of course. Can’t rule out the universe having a laugh at my expense. What are the chances it malfunctions only when I touched it?”

Stepping through the entrance, his frown deepened. ‘What the actual fuck…’

Brakebills looked… dull. Normally, the grounds had a brightness to them and a certain vibrancy that came from the constant use of magic which was probably also due to the effects of the wards and other spells in place. But now, it looked flat, almost mundane. Worse, it was completely silent. Not just quiet but dead silent. Even his vampiric hearing picked up nothing.

Moss everywhere… The place looked abandoned.

‘Where the hell did that damn button throw me?’

Blurring through the outer compound, he searched room after room. A copper tang hit his senses, and his eyes fell on dried blood stains. He stepped into a classroom and still nothing.

A hint of unease crept in. ‘Abandoned timeline? Could be… it’s starting to look like it.’

He headed toward the Physical Kids’ Cottage. The door was gone. Part of the roof had caved in. Inside, the scene was gruesome: blood sprayed across walls, the bar splintered, bottles shattered, furniture overturned. It looked like a battle had occurred here.

“What the fuck could’ve happened here?”

The faintest sound reached him making his body tense. Instinct flared up as he blurred aside just as a spell ripped past where he’d stood and hit wall blowing it to pieces. He reappeared behind the attacker, seizing the back of their neck and slamming them face-first into the wall in a blur of speed.

“Such a poor welcome, where are your manners,” he said sarcastically.

The voice that answered was shaky. “Who the fuck are you?”

Kai frowned, spinning the figure around. It’s was a woman who looked disheveled, dark circles under her eyes, gaze darting. Recognition hit him.

“…Alice?”